Egg turning mechanism for incubators



l Aug.

22, 1939. s. H. sMlTH 2,170,789

E GG TURNING MECHANISM FOR INCUBATORS Filed July 2,1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l IIIL' T iigy:IiiiIaiL-TliliiiiL-Wlf-fillililiifa rrr INVENTQR Aug. 22, 1939. s, H. SMITH 4 EGG TURNING MECHANISM FOR INCUBATORS Filed July 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTNEY Aug. 22, 1939. s. H SMH-H 2,170,789

EGG TURNING MECHANISM FOR `mculadfroas Patented Aug. 22, 1939 PATENT QFFICE EGG TURNING IVIECHANISM FOR INCUBATORS Samuel H. Smith, Rocky River, Ohio Application July 21, 1936, Serial No. 91,698

20 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of incubation and to incubators in which tiers of eggs are arranged in columns. cubation, the eggs are turned, usually by tilting the egg trays which may be held individually in frames, or the trays may be mounted directly upon movable members, such as chains. The eggs may be turned conveniently by turning or tilting the egg trays from one inclined posim tion to an oppositely inclined position, but during such a turning operation, each tray swings through an arc which has a greater dimension horizontally than the corresponding projected horizontal dimension of the tray after it comes to rest in either of its inclined positions. In order to turn the eggs in this manner, it has been necessary to provide space for each column of trays equal at least to the maximum width of the trays, or the width of the tray frames which hold the 20 trays if such frames are used. The purpose of this invention is to provide for reducing the spacial requirements for egg trays and for the frames so that adjacent columns of eggs may be spaced more closely together without inter- ;5 tering with the turning of the eggs. This invention provides for spacing adjacent tiers of eggs so closely that their trays or the frames for the egg trays may swing through intersecting arcs when the eggs are turned.

6U In another aspect, the invention provides` means adapted to cooperate with the improved spacing arrangement to turn a plurality of columns of eggs without causing interference between the egg supporting means of adjacent col- 35 umns. This improved egg turning means may also be used advantageously even where the improved spacing arrangement is not utilized.

It is also an important object of this invention to providel apparatus of the general class referred to, having an improved construction and relative arrangement of parts.

The features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

|| of Fig. 3, illustrating a portion of an incubator with the egg trays in one of their inclined positions;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the 50 inclubator showing the operating means for the egg turning apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing only the upper portion of the inclubator and illustrating the means 55' tor actuating the egg turning mechanism for the During the period of in- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section along the line (Cl. 11S- 44) incubating compartments on the sides of the incubator in unison;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, and illustrating a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale; 5

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are elevational views with parts omitted and broken away to illustrate the improved spacing arrangement and the different positions of the egg supporting means and l0 of the apparatus for shifting the egg supporting means to the positions shown; and

'Fig'. 11 is a diagrammatic View illustrating features of the spacing arrangement. f

In the preferred embodiment selected for ill5 lustration, the incubator comprises an insulated cabinet i0 having a door opening to a central passageway which leads between incubatingl compartments i2 and i3 (Fig. 3). Suitable frame members, such as the channels i4 and i5 ex- 20 tend along the passageway adjacent the top thereof. The columns of egg trays are supported at one end from these channels. Along the side of each channel facing the incubating compartment the cam members I6 and IE are mounted 25 to pivot on pivot bolts Depending links i8 are pivotally connected to the ends of each cam member by means of pivot bolts I9. Frames 2| for the egg trays have projecting ears 22 and 23 which are pivotally connected to the links |8 30 by means of rivets 24. Each of the frames 2| is adapted to receive an egg tray 26. The ends 2| of the frames 2| which are adjacent the cabinet wall (Fig. 3) are pivotally connected at their mid-points by rivets 21 to the anges of up- 35 right angles 28 which may be attached to the cabinet in any approved manner. Preferably, these angles have holes at their upper ends which receive hooks 29 carried by the fixed bar 32. These frames 2| have parallel sides 30 and 3|' 40 (Fig. 7) extending from the ends 21 to the end of the trays adjacent the central passageway where these sides are equipped with the ears 22 and 23 and also with abutments 3| and 3| for retaining the tray and yet having this end of 45 the frame substantially open to facilitate loading and unloading. These frames may haveY any suitable bottom member or members indicated at 33.

An actuating bar 34 is mounted on each of 50 the channels I4 and I5 on the sides opposite those on which the cam members I6 and |6 are disposed. These bars are slidable longitudinally through spaced guides 35 (Figi. 1) and between a plate guide 36 (Fig. 4) and an f angle guide 31. A nut 38 is fixed to the bar 34 by means of the bolts 39, and receives a threaded shaft 4I which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 42 having a bracket 43 attached to the channel by screws 44. 'I'he shaft4l is held from longitudinal movement by a collar 46 on one side of the bearing and by the hub of a sprocket 41 which is fixed to the shaft on the other side of the bearing. The shaft 4I which is mounted on one of the channels, as on the channel I5, need not extend substantially beyond the collar 46, while the shaft mounted on the channel I4 has a section 4I' which extends through the cabinet and carries a sprocket 48 (Fig. 2). At some convenient point, as adjacent the door opening I I, a hand wheel 49 is mounted on the cabinet and a sprocket 5I is fixed to the hub of the handwheel. A chain 52 is trained over the sprockets 48 and 5I and also over idler sprockets 53 and 54 (Fig. 2). Within the incubator a chain 50 is trained over the sprockets 4l to cause the shafts 4I to operate in unison. Each of the cam members I6 and i6' has a closed slot 55 which receives a pivot bolt 56 (Fig. 5) fixed to the actuating bar 34. These pivot bolts travel through horizontal slots 57 (Fig. 4) in the channel beams I4 and I5. Each of the slots 55 in the cam members has a portion 55' extending substantially radially of the pivotal mounting of the cam member and another portion 55 extending at an angle to the portion 55'. In adjacent cam members I6 and l5', these angularly extending portions 55" are oppositely inclined. K

The features of the improved spacing arrangement for the egg supporting means are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l1. In considering this view let the line AB represent the overall width of a frame 2i as supported by a cam member i6 in Fig. 8, and similarly, let the line CD represent the overall width of an adjacent frame 2l carriedby a cam member t6'. When the line AB swings about its midpoint to the position A'B' its end -B describes an arc BB'. Likewise, when the line CD swings about a pivot intermediate its ends, its end C describes an arc CC' which intersects the are BB'. If the arc CC' does not intersect the chord BB subtending the arc BB' and the arc BB' does not intercept the chord CC' subtending the arc CC', then the lines AB and CD maybe swung successively to their dotted positions. These principles are embodied in the spacing arrangement for the egg' supporting means illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. l

In Figs. 1 and 6, all of the cam members i5 and I6', and the egg trays associated therewith, are similarly inclined and the actuating bar is in its extreme left hand position. It will be noted that in each of the cam members I6, the pivot bolts 56 are also at the'extreme left hand ends of the slots 55, while in the cam members I5', the pivot bolts 56 are at the junction of the radial portions 55 and the inclined portions 55" of the cam slots. As the actuating bar 34 moves to the right from the position shown in Fig. 6 to .that` shown in Fig. '7; the pivot bolts 55 in the cam members i6 travel only half way through the horizontal portions 55" of the cam slots and therefore the ca m members I6 are retained in the same position as in Fig. 6. During this same movement of the actuating bar, the pivot bolts 56 in the slots of the cam members I6 travel to the lower ends of the radial portions 55' of these slots and this swings the -portions 55" of the slots.

cams I6 to a horizontal position. As the trays 26 and frames 2I associated with each cam member are parallel to the lower edge thereof, it will be evident that the position of the egg supporting means of each column is always indicated by the position of the cam member.

As the actuating bar is moved further to the right to the position of Fig. 8, the pivot bolts travel to the ends of the horizontal portions 55" of the slots in the cam members I6, but these pivot bolts do not enter the radial portions of the slots. The cam members I6, therefore, remain in the same positions. This same movement of the actuating bar carries the pivot bolts from the lower to the outer ends of the radial portions 55 of the slots in cam' members I6' and swings these cam members to the positions shown in Fig. 8.

It should now be evident that when the actuating bar continues its movement to the right to the position shown in Fig. 9, the pivots in travelling to the lower ends of the radial portions 55', swing the cam members I6 to a horizontal position while the cam members l5' remain unchanged, since in these the pivot bolts have travelled only part Way along the horizontal As the actuating bar moves to its extreme right hand position in Fig. 10, the pivot bolts moving outwardly through the radial portions 55' of the slots swing the cam members to the inclined positions shown, while the cam members i6 retain their positions of Fig. 9 as the pivot bolts travel only to the ends of the horizontal portions 55" of the slots.

The cam members and the egg supporting .35

means may be shifted to the positions shown in Figs. 6-10 bfy operating the hand wheel 45 and thereby transmitting motion from sprocket 5l through the chain 52 to the sprocket 48 which rotates the screw' shaft 4i and causes the nut 38 to travel and to carry with it the actuating bar 34. The actuating -bars 34 on each of the channels l@ and l5 are actuated in unison by the chain 5@ (Fig, 3) operating over the sprockets 4l, so that corresponding columns of egg supporting means in both incubating compartments are shifted simultaneously. It will also be evident that the actuating bar may be caused to travel from right to left as viewed in Figs. 6-10.

In using this apparatus the trays are loaded into the frames or removed therefrom only' when the frames are in a horizontal position. Thus, by setting the apparatus to the position shown in Fig. 7, the trays associated with the cam members i6 may be passed between the links I@ into or from the frames 2l. Likewise the trays associated with the cam members I ti may be loaded or unloaded from the position shown in Fig, 9. During incubation, the eggs may be turned as desired from the inclined position shown in Fig.- 6 to the oppositely inclined position shown in Fig. 10, and only alternate columns of egg supporting means need be shifted at one time.

The term egg supporting means" and like expressions, as used herein and in the claims, are intended to include the tray frame which holds the egg tray in incubators in which the individual trays are supported in frames, and also the individual egg trays in incubators in which the egg trays are hung or otherwise suspended directlywo from upright supporting mem'belS without the aid o'fv individual frames for the egg trays.

The term tier as used herein and in the claims with respect to the egg supporting means denotes those egg supporting means which lie within subdit stantially the same horizontal plane or stratum in a group of egg supporting means. Similarly, the term column as used herein and in the claims with respect to the egg supporting means denotes those egg supporting means which lie within substantially the same vertical plane or stratum in a group of egg supporting means.

While the preferred form of the invention and the best known mode of applying the principles thereof have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art when'Y informed by this specification, and that the invention is not limited except as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an incubator, the combination of egg supporting means arranged in adjacent tiers, means for supporting said egg supporting means for tilting movement about substantially fixed and horizontal axes, the horizontal distance between vertical planes through said axes being less than the width of an egg supporting means when said egg supporting means is in an untilted position.

2. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for sup-porting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the egg supporting means of adjacent columns being spaced for tilting movement through intersecting arcs, the egg supporting means of one column being adapted to tilt freely without intercepting chords subtending the arcs described by egg supporting means of adjacent columns during tilting movement of the latter.

3. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the egg supporting means of adjacent columns being spaced for tilting movement through intersecting arcs, the egg supporting means of one column being adapted to tilt freely Without intercepting chords subtending the arcs described by egg supporting means of adjacent columns during tilting move-,

ment of the latter, and means for tilting alternate columns of egg supporting means simultaneously.

4. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the egg supporting means of adjacent columns being spaced for tilting movement through intersecting arcs, the egg supporting means of one column being adapted to tilt freely without intercepting chords subtending the arcs described by egg supporting means of adjacent columns during tilting movement of the latter, and means for tilting adjacent columns of egg supporting means successively.

5. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the egg supporting means of adjacent columns being spaced for tilting movement through intersecting arcs, the egg supporting means of one column being adapted to tilt freely without intercepting chords subtending the arcs described by egg supporting means of adjacent columns during tilting movement of the latter, and means for tilting adjacent columns of egg supporting means successively and alternate columns of egg supporting means simultaneously.

6. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the cornbination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for tilting only alternate columns of egg supporting means simultaneously.

'7. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and means common to all of said columns of egg supporting means for tilting adjacent columns of egg supporting means successively.

8. In an incubatorcomprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and progressively operable means for tilting alternate columns of egg supporting means simultaneously and then for simultaneously tilting the remaining columns of egg supporting means.

9. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the egg supporting means of adjacent columns being spaced for tilting movement through intersecting arcs, the egg supporting means of one column being adapted to tilt freely without intercepting chords subtending the arcs described by egg supporting means of adjacent columns during tilting movement of the latter, a pivotally mounted cam member associated with each of said columns of egg supporting means, means for transmitting pivotal movement from each cam member to the egg supporting means of the column associated therewith, a longitudinally movable actuating bar, and cooperating cam surfaces and a follower associated with said bar and each of said cam members, said cam surfaces comprising similarly disposed substantially radial Nsurfaces on each cam member and other surfaces extending at an angle to said substantially radial surfaces, said angularly extending surfaces on cam members associated with adjacent columns being oppositely inclined.

10. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of a pivotally mounted cam member associated with each of said columns of egg supporting means, means for transmitting pivotal movement from each cam member to the egg supporting means of the column associated therewith, a longitudinally movable actuating bar, and cooperating cam surfaces and a follower associated with said bar and each of said cam members for actuating the latter to tilt the egg supporting means, said cam surfaces comprising similarly directed substantially radial surfaces on each cam member and other substantially parallel surfaces extending at an angle other than 180 to said substantially radial surfaces.

Il. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of a pivotally 4mounted cam member associated with each of said columns of egg supporting means, means for transmitting pivotal movement from each cam member to the egg supporting means of the column associated therewith, a, longitudinally movable actuating bar, and cooperating cam surfaces and a rfollower associated with said bar and each of said cam members for actuating the latter to tilt the egg supporting means, said camsurfaces comprising similarly directed substantially radial surfaces on each cam member and other substantially parallel surfaces extending at an angle to said substantially radial surfaces, said angularly extending surfaces on cam members associated with adjacent columns being oppositely inclined.

12. In an incubator, tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns and means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, said axes in each column being disposed at all times in substantially the same plane, the planes of said axes in adjacent columns being spaced a less distance than the Width of a column of egg supporting means when said means are in an untilted position.

13- In an incubator, tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns and means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending lengthwise of said egg supporting means between the sides thereof, said axes in each column being disposed in substantially the same plane, the planes of said axes in adjacent columns being spaced a less distance than the width of a column of egg supporting means when said means are in an untilted position.

14. In an incubator, the combination of egg supporting means arranged in tiers, means for supporting said egg supporting means for tilting movement about substantially parallel axes, said egg supporting means being arranged with respect to adjacent egg supporting means so that the projection of one untilted egg-supporting means upon the plane defined by said axes is partly coextensive with the projection of an adjacent untilted egg supporting means upon said plane.

15. In an incubator, the combination of a plurality of egg supporting means arranged in tiers, means for supporting said egg supporting means for tilting movement about substantially parallel axes, the length of each tier being less than the sum of the widths of the egg supporting means in said tier, the width of each egg supporting means beingv determined by projecting the untilted egg supporting means upon the plane deiined by said axes.

l 16. The combination comprising egg support- 'ing means arranged in adjacent tiers, each of said tiers comprising a plurality of egg supporting means arranged during normal operation in a substantially spaced relationship, and means for supporting said egg supporting means for tilting movement through intersecting arcs, said egg supporting means being spaced so' that the are described by one of said egg supporting means during complete tilting movement thereof does not intercept the chord subtending the arc described by the-adjacent egg supporting means during its complete tilting movement.

17. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and progressively operable means for tilting alternate columns of egg supporting means simultaneously and then for s simultaneously tilting the remaining columns of egg supporting means, said progressively operable tilting means comprising a plurality of pivotal' to said parallel portion, the continuations of adjacent cam slots being oppositely directed during certain periods of operation.

18. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of a pivotally mounted member associated with each of said columns of egg support` ing means, means for transmitting pivotal movement from each pivotal member to the egg supporting means of the column associated therewith, a. longitudinally movable actuating bar, and cooperating cam surfaces and a follower associated which said bar and each of said pivotal members for actuating the latter to tilt the egg supporting means, said cam surfaces comprising substantially parallel portions With continuing surfaces at an angle other than to each substantially parallel surface, the continuing surfaces being parallel.

19. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg supporting means arranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg sup-l porting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for tilting only alternate columns of egg supporting means simultaneously, said means comprising a longitudinally movable actuating bar engaging a plu.

rality of pivotal members, each of said pivotal members being associated with a column of egg.

supporting means, and camming means connecting said actuating bar and said pivotal members.

20. In an incubator comprising tiers of egg' supporting meansarranged in columns, the combination of means for supporting each egg supporting means for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and means common to allof said egg supporting means for tilting adjav cent columns of egg supporting means successively, said means comprising a longitudinally movable actuating bar engaging a plurality of pivotal members, each of said pivotal members being associated with a column of egg supporting means, and camming means connecting said actuating bar and said pivotal members.

SAMUEL n. sivn'rn. 

